June 8, 2021 3:20 a.m.

Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued penalties totaling $44,600 to four employers in May for COVID-19 violations.

A release from the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services said the fines are for “…willful violations of rules designed to protect workers from potential exposure to the coronavirus disease”.

The release said the citations were issued to two restaurants, a bakery and a wood products company in Deschutes, Wasco, Linn and Multnomah counties. Citations were levied to:

*Cork Cellars Wine and Bistro in Sisters, for willfully choosing to allow indoor dining despite a public health order limiting capacity to zero in Deschutes County. The penalty was $17,000 and has been appealed.

*Last Stop in The Dalles for the same offense. A penalty of $8,900 has been appealed

*Country Bakery in Halsey for not ensuring that face coverings were worn inside the establishment. Also, for not posting the required “COVID-19 Hazards Poster for workers to see. The fine is $9,000.

*Creative Woodworking Northwest in Portland for not ensuring that face coverings were worn inside the establishment. An $8,900 citation has been appealed.

For an overview of the COVID-19 related citations the division has issued since the beginning of the pandemic, go to: https://osha.oregon.gov/Documents/Covid19-related-citations-OregonOSHA.pdf